Illegal importation of animals continues

The illegal importation of animals from South America into Trinidad continues despite the existing laws prohibiting the trade, imposed three years ago. More than 300 animals, including birds and Capuchin monkeys, are imported mainly from Venezuela annually to sustain a ready market in Trinidad. Birds are purchased on an average US$50 abroad and sold to petshop owners for close to TT$1,000. President of the Zoological society Gupte Lutchmedial said that the ban has been imposed to prevent the spread of diseases which can “wipe out all of Trinidad’s livestock.” Monkeys, in particular, Sunday Newsday was told can communicate any of the diseases susceptible to humans from HIV/AIDS to ebola and yellow fever. Birds, on the other hand, can transmit major diseases such as  newcastle disease and avian influenza which can affect animals. Recently, police seized over 30 animals including capuchin monkeys, quails, capibaras and macaws, which are now housed at the Emperor Valley Zoo. Under the Animal Health Diseases Act, animals which are not native to the country of importation and animals which are sick should be destroyed.

“You cannot introduce a new species unless it is indigenous to the country... Take for example the Blue and gold macaw, if you see that in any pet shop you know that it was imported illegally. And there is a procedure of testing and quarantine that these animals must go through,” said Lutchmedial. The Yellow-head parrot is also a common species that is imported illegally. The police or game wardens of Forestry Division, Ministry of Agriculture, whose job it is to seize these illegal animals, carry out inspections for possession of protected animals and failure to keep them in suitable enclosure. After the animals are quarantined, they are handed over to the zoo or bird and animal fanciers who can provide proper homes. The zoo can, only on advice of the veterinarian, put an animal to sleep. However, that was not the practice of the Emperor Valley Zoo. In an earlier report Lutchmedial said it was not a policy of the zoo to kill animals. “A lot of animals can be rehabilitated and let loose into the wild except for macaws. They are not able to adapt as easily as a game bird would,” Lutchmedial told Sunday Newsday. “We try as best as possible to rehabilitate them and what we keep, we put on exhibit.”